FIFA World Cup 2022 – Stats and Records

FIFA World Cup 2022 – Stats and Records You Must Know

Get to know all the FIFA World Cup 2022 Stats & Records, awards & information on footballers Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé Lottin, Hugo Lloris & more.

The FIFA World Cup 2022 came to an exciting end. 32 elite national teams from 5 confederations participated in this football competition, which was full of memorable moments. Records were broken with each passing match, from Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal to Messi’s most World Cup appearances to French superstar Kylian Mbappé. Morocco became the 1^st country from Africa to go to the Semi-Finals.

Cristiano Ronaldo / FIFA World Cup 2022 Stats & Records

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a penalty in Portugal’s 3 – 2 victory over Group H rival Ghana to become the 1^st player to score at 5 different FIFA World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 & 2022). Ronaldo scored his goal on November 24 to become the oldest player to score for Portugal at a World Cup at the age of 37 years & 292 days. He also holds the distinction of being the youngest, scoring for his country in the 2006 World Cup at the age of 21 years & 132 days.

Cristiano Ronaldo became 1 of just 4 players—along with Rafael Márquez Álvarez, Lothar Herbert Matthäus, Antonio Félix “Tota” Carbajal Rodríguez & Lionel Messi to have appeared in 5 different FIFA World Cups as he took the field in Qatar for the match against Ghana. Portugal’s shocking defeat to Morocco left CR7 empty-handed after a loss of 0 – 1 to Morocco.

Lionel Messi / FIFA World Cup 2022 Stats & Records

There’s no higher stage for athletes like Lionel Messi than the World Cup. The World Cup Trophy eluded him for so many years. But at age 35 & on his 5^th & Final appearance he finally won it. Messi has rewritten the records books for Club & his country throughout his brilliant career. He carried on doing so while establishing himself as 1 of the finest players to ever lace up a pair of boots in the history of football.

Most World Cup Appearances

In Argentina’s last group match against Poland, Messi made his 22^nd World Cup participation. He surpassed the late Diego Maradona’s previous mark for tournament appearances for his nation. In the Final match, Messi surpassed Lothar Matthäus’s previous mark of World Cup Finals appearances, bringing his total to 26.

Most World Cup Goals by an Argentinian

Gabriel Omar Batistuta has led the way for most Argentine scorers with 10 goals over the past World Cup competitions. Messi overtook “Batigol” with his penalty kick in the Semi-Final against Croatia, giving him his 11^th goal in his 5^th World Cup. He scored 2 goals in the Final game & he now has 13 World Cup goals. He’s now ranked 4^th along with Just Louis Fontaine in the list of most World Cup goals in the FIFA World Cup tournament.

Miroslav Josef Klose scored the most goals in the FIFA World Cup tournament. He has scored 16 goals in 4 World Cup tournament participation.

Most Assists

Argentina had to defeat Mexico to advance in the tournament after suffering a shocking loss to Saudi Arabia in their opening game. After that loss, every match became a must-win scenario for Argentina. Messi didn’t let his nation down. He stepped up, bearing the dreams of a whole country on his shoulders. His long-range shot started the scoring before he helped Enzo Jeremías Fernández score the game-winning goal. He became the 1^st player to have an assist in 5 different men’s World Cup competitions (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 & 2022).

Messi also rewrote the Record Books in many other ways. That pass made Messi the youngest & oldest player in World Cup history to score a goal & assist in a single World Cup game. Messi did that against Serbia in 2006 at the age of 18. Now he has done it again against Mexico at the age of 35. He also tied Diego Maradona’s record of 8 World Cup assists with his outstanding run & pull-back for Julián Álvarez to score Argentina’s 3^rd goal against Croatia in the Semi-Finals.

Captaincy

In FIFA World Cup 2022, Messi did succeed in breaking yet another record of the great Maradona. The 1986 World Cup hero led his country 16 times while donning the captain’s armband. That total was matched by Messi in the Semi-Finals before being surpassed in the Final game. Messi who’s Maradona’s most prominent successor, wearing the number 10 shirt, motivated Argentina to a  3^rd World Cup victory.

Mbappé / FIFA World Cup 2022 Stats & Records

Argentina was leading the World Cup Final 2 – 0 with 10 minutes remaining. Messi was headed for the World Cup win that eluded him for the last 4 World Cup tournaments. Mbappé had different plans. He 1^st scored from the penalty. Mbappé then scored another stunning goal within a minute to send the game into Extra Time. Mbappé scored his hat trick from another penalty. Kylian Mbappé joins Sir Geoffrey Charles Hurst MBE as the only player to score a hat trick in the World Cup Final. Mbappé now has 8 goals overall for the competition & it’s 1 more than Messi, giving him the Golden Boot. Before turning 24 years old, he had already surpassed Pele in terms of World Cup goals scored. But Argentina prevailed on penalties, meaning Mbappé’s heroic effort was in vain.

Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior

Neymar created a magical moment in the FIFA World Cup 2022 Quarter Final by scoring Brazil’s 1^st goal against Croatia in the 1^st Half of the Extra Time. With his 3^rd World Cup goal in Qatar, Neymar tied Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known as Pelé’s 77 Brazil goals. Legendary Brazilian footballer, who is receiving cancer treatment in a hospital in Sao Paulo, recorded 77 goals in 92 games. Whereas Neymar has scored 77 goals in 124 games. Pelé is the only player to have won 3 World Cups. He’s regarded as one of the best players of all time.

Gavi / FIFA World Cup 2022 Stats & Records

Spain’s Pablo Martín Páez Gavira, known as Gavi, who scored against Costa Rica, is the World Cup’s youngest scorer at the age of 18 years & 110 days.

Olivier Jonathan Giroud

Olivier Jonathan Giroud’s goal at the very end of the 1^st Half of France’s Round Of 16 match against Poland made him the nation’s all-time leading scorer with 52 goals. He later increased that total to 53 with his headed goal in the Quarter Final victory over England. He tied Thierry Daniel Henry’s previous record of 51 goals when the 36-year-old scored twice in the 4 – 1 victory over Australia.

Hugo Hadrien Dominique Lloris

Hugo Lloris, the captain of France, set a record for appearances for his country. In the Quarter Final victory over England, Lloris earned his 143^rd cap, moving him beyond Ruddy Lilian Thuram-Ulien. Lloris increased his total to 144 in the Semi-Final matchup with Morocco & to 145 in the Final game against Argentina.

Saudi Arabi ends Argentina’s winning streak

Argentina was 1 of the favorites to win the entire tournament. Argentina arrived in Qatar with a perfect 36-game unbeaten record. The tournament’s 2^nd lowest-ranked team, Saudi Arabia, ended that streak by defeating Argentina by a 2 – 1 scoreline.

Iñaki Williams Arthuer & Nicholas “Nico” Williams Arthuer 

On November 24^th, Iñaki Williams of Ghana & Nico Williams of Spain created FIFA World Cup history by becoming the 1^st full siblings to represent different nations at the tournament.

Qatar – An unwanted record

The host nation achieved a record that they would not want to boast about too much. Qatar also became the 1^st FIFA World Cup hosts to lose their opening game as they were defeated 2 – 0 by Ecuador. Qatar has also lost all the 3 games in the Group Stage.

Wayne Robert Hennessey

Following his collision with Iran’s Mehdi Taremi, Welsh goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey became the 1^st player at the FIFA World Cup 2022 to get a Red card. The card displayed was originally a Yellow card before being changed to a Red Card. Hennessey is the 3^rd goalie to receive a Red card during a World Cup tournament.

Record draw games at FIFA World Cup 2022 & England’s 22^nd

On 25^th November 2022, England & the USA played the 5^th scoreless draw of the FIFA World Cup 2022. 6 days later, the score remained 0 – 0 between Croatia & Belgium. The remaining 4 scoreless draws thus far are – Poland 0 – 0 Mexico, Tunisia 0 – 0 Denmark, Morocco 0 – 0 Croatia & Uruguay 0 – 0 South Korea. The fact that 8 teams drew their opening World Cup games 0 – 0 for the 1^st time. The draw for England was the 22^nd in World Cups which is a record. With 21 draws, Italy is now in 2^nd place.

Enner Remberto Valencia Lastra

The goal Valencia scored for Ecuador against the Netherlands was his 6^th consecutive World Cup goal. No other Ecuadorian player had this record. All the 2014 World Cup Group Stage goals for Ecuador were all scored by Valencia. Ecuador did not earn a spot in Russia for the 2018 World Cup tournament. The 33-year-old joins a limited group that includes the legendary Portuguese player Eusébio da Silva Ferreira GCIH GCM in 1966, Paolo Rossi of Italy in 1982 & Oleg Anatolyevich Salenko of Russia in 1994. Along with Eusébio in 1966, Paolo Rossi in 1982 & Oleg Salenko in 1994, he is just the 4^th player to ever score 6 straight goals for a nation in the competition.

Robert Lewandowski / FIFA World Cup 2022 Stats & Records

After scoring his 1^st World Cup goal in Poland’s 2 – 0 victory over Saudi Arabia, Robert Lewandowski broke down in tears. With 8 minutes left to play, Lewandowski doubled his team’s lead and sealed the victory & he was unable to contain his emotions. Lewandowski missed a penalty in his team’s opening Group C match against Mexico, ending a goalless scoring streak of 5 World Cup games. Lewandowski has now scored more than 600 goals throughout his career & matched Pele’s record of 77 goals for his country. He passed the legendary Brazilian player with a consolation penalty late in the Round Of 16 defeat to France.

Kepler Laveran de Lima Ferreira ComM / Pepe

Pepe moved up to the position of 2^nd oldest outfield player in the World Cup after starting in the 2 – 0 victory over Uruguay. Roger Milla, 42, of Cameroon, who competed for his country in the 1994 World Cup in the USA, continues to hold the record. Essam Kamal Tawfiq El Hadary, an Egyptian goalkeeper, continues to hold the record. He participated in the 2018 World Cup at the age of 45. In the 6 – 1 victory over Switzerland, Pepe made history by being the 2^nd oldest player to score at a World Cup.

Stéphanie Frappart / FIFA World Cup 2022 Stats & Records

Stéphanie Frappart became the 1^st woman in history to referee a men’s World Cup game. She was the referee in the Germany VS Costarica match. Stéphanie Frappart was also the 4^th official in the earlier Mexico VS Poland match.

Marcus Rashford MBE

The star player in England’s World Cup victory over Wales was Marcus Rashford. With his 2 goals in England’s 3 – 0 victory against Wales, Marcus Rashford MBEensured that his nation moved to the knockout rounds 1^st in their pool. Rashford scored England’s 100^th FIFA World Cup goal with his 2^nd goal of the match. Stanley Harding Mortensen scored the opening goal for England in the 1950 FIFA World Cup. Brazil, Germany, Argentina, Italy, France & Spain are other nations that have 100 or more goals at a World Cup tournament.

Cody Mathès Gakpo

The 23-year-old Cody Gakpo is the only Dutchman to ever score in every game of a World Cup’s group stage for the Netherlands. He secured the record when he started the score for the Netherlands against Qatar in their 3^rd Group Stage match.

Steve Mandanda Mpidi

The French goalie Steve Mandanda, who’s 37 years & 247 days old, set a record for the oldest player to ever represent France when he played against Tunisia on November 30.

Daniel Alves da Silva

Another record has been added to the illustrious career of Daniel Alves. The 39-year-old fullback made history by becoming Brazil’s oldest captain when he led his nation onto the field for their match against Cameroon. Thiago Emiliano da Silva, 38, previously held the record for the oldest Brazilian male player & men’s captain at a World Cup when he started in Brazil’s 2 – 0 victory against Serbia in the tournament’s 1^st Round. He has currently been surpassed by Daniel Alves. Daniel Alves also became the oldest player to assist a goal at the World Cup when he provided an assist during Brazil’s 4 – 1 victory over South Korea.

Morocco / FIFA World Cup 2022 Stats & Records

Morocco defeated Portugal 1 – 0 to become the 1^st nation from Africa to ever reach the World Cup Semi-Finals. In the thrilling 3 – 0 shootout victory over Spain in the Round Of 16, Morocco’s goalie Yassine Bounou saved 2 penalties. Achraf Hakimi Mouh scored the crucial penalty for Morocco. Walid Regragui is the coach of Morocco.

Gonçalo Matias Ramos / FIFA World Cup 2022 Stats & Records

In the Quarter Finals, Gonçalo Ramos stole the show by scoring just 17 minutes into his competition debut. He made waves throughout the world when he recorded the 1^st hat trick of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Argentina VS Netherlands saw a record 18 Yellow Cards

During Argentina’s dramatic quarterfinal victory against the Netherlands that required a penalty shootout, Spanish referee Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz issued a record 16 yellow cards to players. The previous mark was 12 yellow cards, which were issued in the 2022 World Cup matches between Senegal VS Uruguay & Cameroon VS Germany, as well as in the Final between Spain and the Netherlands in 2010. Lionel Sebastián Scaloni & Walter Adrián Samuel, the Coach & Assistant Coaches for Argentina, were also given Yellow Cards by referee Lahoz. Denzel Justus Morris Dumfries of the Netherlands was the only player to receive 2 yellow cards & which came after Lautaro Javier Martínez had successfully converted the game-winning penalty in the shootout for Argentina.

Golden Ball

Lionel Messi received the Golden Ball award for being the best player in the competition. Messi won the Golden Ball in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Argentina lost the Final match to Germany by a score of 1 – 0 in Extra Time. The 35-year-old finally won the 1 trophy that has eluded him throughout his fairytale career. Messi is the only player to win the Golden Ball award twice in a FIFA World Cup tournament. Messi was unanimously chosen for the Player Of the Match Award for the Final Game. He also won the Golden Ball award when Argentina won Copa America in 2021.

Luka Modrić has won the Golden Ball award in 2018. This time Luka received the Bronze Ball Award for 3rd place. Mbappé grabbed the Silver Ball Award for 2^nd place.

Golden Boot

Mbappé won the Golden Boot after his hat trick in the Final match gave him 8 goals. It’s 1 more than Messi, who scored 2 goals in the Final match. Mbappé now has 12 goals in just 2 World Cup tournament. He’s unquestionably aiming for Miroslav Josef Klose’s World Cup record of 16 goals. Mbappé has made 66 appearances for France & scored 36 goals. He’s solidifying his position as 1 of the best forwards in the world.

Golden Glove

Damián Emiliano Martínez, the Argentinian goalie has won the Golden Glove award for the best goalkeeper after blocking Kingsley Junior Coman’s penalty during the penalty shootout. He also pulled off an outstanding save late in Extra Time to keep Randal Kolo Muani from scoring a goal that would’ve sealed the victory for France for sure. Martínez also made 2 saves in the penalty shootout to help Argentina defeat the Netherlands in the Quarter Finals.

Young Player Of The Tournament

The award for Young Player of the Tournament was won by Enzo Jeremías Fernández. Enzo was a substitute in his nation’s opening 2 games, but his amazing goal against Mexico helped him earn a starting position.

Fair Play Award

Quarter Finalists losers England won the Fair Play Award as they received only 1 booking in 5 games.

More Stats for the 2022 FIFA World Cup

• Before losing to Cameroon in the FIFA World Cup, Brazil went a record 17 games undefeated.
• Canada is the 76^th different team to score at a FIFA World Cup for men.
• Alphonso Boyle Davies of Canada scored the goal in Qatar 2022 in the quickest time. He scored against Croatia in under 70 seconds.
• For the 1^st time since 1938, Germany’s opening 2 World Cup games were losses.
• The 1^st person to score in 5 different World Cups is Cristiano Ronaldo.

Lionel Messi Stats in a nutshell

• Lionel Messi became the leading scorer for his nation at World Cups after scoring his 11^th goal in 25 games. For both club & country, Lionel Messi holds the record for never being knocked out from the Group Stage of a tournament. Messi scored his 1^st goal in the World Cup’s Knockout Round when Argentina defeated Australia by 2 – 1 in the Round Of 16. After leading his team to a 3 – 0 victory over Croatia in the Semi-Finals, Lionel Messi became the 1^st male football player since 1966 to score & provide an assist in 3 different World Cup games. With their victory over Croatia, Argentina continued their streak of never having lost a World Cup Semi-Final Round. They’ve now made a 5-time appearance in the Semi-Final Round. Argentina has become just the 6^th side in World Cup history to advance after losing their opening match. The Round Of 16 was introduced in Mexico in the 1986 FIFA World Cup. Lionel Messi became the 1^st man to score in each of the Knockout Stages & also in the Group Stage. Argentina won the World Cup for the 3^rd time, adding to their victories in 1978 & 1986.

More Stats for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Continuation

• Wayne Hennessey, Wales goalkeeper, was the 1^st participant in Qatar 2022 to be dismissed from the game due to a Red Card.
• For the 1^st time since 1978, Mexico did not make it past the group stage.
• Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Nicolas Marc Courtois made his 100^th appearance, although his competition ended after the Group Stage.
• Wahbi Khazri of Tunisia is the 1^st African player to score in 3 straight World Cup games.
• Japan won a FIFA World Cup game against Spain with the lowest possession percentage (17.7 %) ever seen in a World Cup game.
• Spain’s Pablo Martín Páez Gavira, also known as Gavi, who scored against Costa Rica, is the World Cup’s youngest scorer at the age of 18 years & 110 days.
• In the Group Stage, Saudi Arabia broke Argentina’s 36-game unbeaten streak, falling 1 short of the all-time mark.
• Qatar is the 1^st home side to lose the 1^st game of the FIFA World Cup. Qatar is also the  1^st home side to lose all the 3 games in the Group Stage.
• Stéphanie Frappart became the 1^st woman ever to referee a men’s World Cup match.
• Vincent Aboubakar of Cameroon scored the sole goal in his team’s historic 1 – 0 victory over Brazil. But Aboubakar received a Red Card for taking off his shirt in celebration. This same incident happened since Zinedine Zidane in the 2006 World Cup Final against Italy.
• Hugo Lloris, France’s goalkeeper, played in the Quarter Final victory over England in his 143^rd game. He now has more caps for France than Lilian Thuram by 1.

Kylian Mbappé Stats in a nutshell

• Kylian Mbappé became the 5^th person to score in the World Cup Final on 2 occasions. He also became just the 2^nd player after England’s Sir Geoffrey Charles Hurst MBE in 1966 to score a hat trick in the World Cup Final. For the 1^st time since 1978, Mexico did not make it past the Group Stage.